Portable lamp



y 1, 1956 w. E. WUDYKA 2,744,189

PORTABLE LAMP Filed 001.. 4, 1954 United States Patent PORTABLE LAMP Walter E. Wuziyka, Holyoke, Mass. Application October 4, 1954, Serial No. 460,032

1 Claim. (Cl. 24010.68)

This invention relates to a portable lamp, more specifically to a plastic article containing a dry-cell battery and bulb, and lighted by turning its head.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a locator which when attached to ones automobile antenna will offer singular identification in a crowded parking lot at night.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a toy locator for children which on the end of a length of rod will serve as an identifier for those taking care of children in a crowd or on spending an evening in the park.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination day and night locator on the end of a length of rod for groups on an outing where the presence of the locator signifies the presence of the campsite.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a locator-arnusement device bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and efllcient in its intended purpose.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article according to the invention, illustrating its use as an automobile locator;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section illustrating the essential components therein;

Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged perspective views of alternative attaching means for the article concerned;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing a further alternative attaching means;

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the internal components of the body;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken along lines 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9a is a bottom plan view of a modified form of head;

Fig. 9b is a top plan view of a modified form of body adapted to be used with the head of Fig. 9a.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, in which similar reference numerals identify corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. l a locator attached to an automobile antenna with its translucent, plastic head 10, lighted.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 2, there is shown a dry cell battery 11 encased snugly within a semi cylindrical metal encasement 12. From the encasement 12, a member 12b extends vertically downward culminating in a horizontal shelf upon which said battery 11 rests and which maintains contact with the positive pole of said battery.

The encasement 12 is permanently attached at its upper end to an insulating piece 13 to which at the other end 'ice is permanently attached the metal bulb holder 14, here shown with threads to receive a screw type bulb 16, although any other conventional bulb holder may be used providing only that there is fixture stability to the bulb and'meta'l to metal contact when the bulb is brought into the circuit, so placed as to bring the base of the bulb into contact with the negative pole of the battery when screwed or inserted into the bulb holder.

The battery encasement 12 rests within the centrally located cylindrical hollow 15a of the hollow body 15, said body 15 with its laterally extending supporting appendages being made of'plastic or other decorative and dielectrical material. Inserted within the open neck of the body is a decorative translucent plastic head 10 secured within the neck of body 15 by a neck 10a and a bolt and nut assembly 17.

Referring now particularly to Figures 3 and 4, alternative attaching means are shown in the form of appendages 18 and 18a so molded with respect to each other that when pulled apart and fitted around the antenna 21, they, upon release will close securely around the vertical antenna.

Referring now particularly to Figure 5, taken along the line 55 of Figure 4, there is shown a further modification wherein a metal spring clip 20 is used to further secure appendages 18a to the antenna 21.

Referring now particularly to Figure 6, there is shown an exploded view of the battery encasement 12, the cylindrical hollow 15a in which it rests, and a fragmentary, cutaway portion of the head 10. Extending Vertically upward and outwardly from the metal battery encasement 12 is a strip 12a which, when the invention is fully assembled in working condition, extends above the level of the cam 22, said cam being a lateral projection on the inside surface of the neck 19a of such shape as to satisfy the requirements of the following paragraph.

As the head 11) is turned (in Figure 6 it would necessarily be counterclockwise) as allowed by the slidable securing device at 17 and 17a, the inwardly bent upper end of the vertically extending member 12a is forced into contact with the bulb holder 14 by the projecting cam 22, thus closing the series circuit between the battery. and bulb via the conductible battery holder assembly 12, 12b, 12a and 14.

The structural member 13 as mentioned previously must be insulatory and so placed in conjunction with the bulb holder 14 and the battery encasement 12 as to maintain contact between the bulb and battery.

Referring now particularly to Figure 7, a vertical section taken along lines 7-7 of Fig. 2, there is shown the operating motion of the vertical extension 12a of the battery encasement 12 by the horizontally protruding cam 22. Necessarily the cam turns to a resting position whereby metal to metal contact is maintained between the member 12a and the bulb holder 14.

Referring now particularly to Figure 8, a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 2, there is shown the battery 11 within the battery encasement 12 and both within the cylindrical hollow portion 15:: located centrally with respect to the body 15.

Referring now particularly to Figures 9a and 9b, there is shown a bottom plan view of a head 10b illustrating the positioning of a pair of contacts 23 as one alternative to the single cam construction shown in Figures 6 and 7. In this case, the neck 10a fits over the neck 24 of body 15, with the contacts 23 being adapted to simultaneously contact the contacts 25 provided therein. When the head 10b is in such a position that the contacts 23 and 25 do not touch, the circuit is open and there will be no light. The contacts 23 will be connected to each other by an external conductor, not shown, while the contacts 25 will be suitably connected in the circuit of the bulb and battery, forming an open switch therein.

Fig. 9b also illustrattes variation for the positioning of the supporting appendages 180 with the fingers interlocked around the antenna.

The body 15 and head 10 may be formed, as shown in the drawing, to simulate the appearance of a monkey, although it will be readily apparent that any other type of figure may be employed, for example, a South Sea Islander climbing a tree.

The head 10 may, of course, be white or colored, as desired.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what is claimed is:

A portable lamp comprising a casing, said casing being open at the top and having a substantially cylindrical neck, a. hollow, substantially cylindrical member secured to the bottom of said casing and extending upwardly therewithin, said cylindrical member being open at the top and terminating below said neck, said casing and cylindrical member being formed of electrically nonconductive material, a substantially semi-cylindrical member of electrically conductive material resiliently fitted within said cylindrical member, a battery resiliently embraced within said semi-cylindrical member, a lateral shelf of electrically conductive material electrically connected to the bottom of said semi-cylindrical member and supporting the bottom of said battery in electrical contact therewith, a dielectric member secured to the upper end of said semicylindrical member, a bulb socket of electrically conductive material secured to said dielectric member at the upper end thereof, an electric lamp within said socket, said lamp and socket extending upwardly of said neck, a hollow, translucent head member having a hollow cylindrical depending neck portion rotatably received within said casing neck and receiving said lamp upwardly therewithin, means for limiting the displacement of said head member neck outwardly of said casing neck while permitting the rotational movement therebetween, an upwardly and outwardly extending conductor in electrical contact with the upper end of said semicylindrical member, said conductor terminating in the level of said socket, and a lateral cam secured to the inside of said depending head member neck and adapted to move the upper end of said conductor against said socket upon rotation of said head relative to said casing whereby to illuminate said lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,361,414 Ramsey Oct. 31, 1944 2,439,496 Szantay Apr. 13, 1948 2,461,118 Lippincott Feb. 8, 1949 2,491,686 Nathan Dec. 20, 1949 2,681,979 Manolofi June 22, 1954 2,704,839 Sweet Mar. 22, 1955 

